Discussion: User Created UI Addons?

[Wolfie]

So you guys think it's okay to build and use a mod that turns everything in to wire frame so you can see through walls while running a dungeon?

It's against the TOS, so no. If it weren't against the TOS, then I would have no say in the matter. My only problem would be convincing the devs to make it against the TOS, not for the players to stop using it. Regardless, this is a dumb f**king strawman argument, because there hasn't been a single developer in the history of everything that has given API to users that allowed them to strip the textures off their meshes.

Or you think it's okay to build a mod that immediately identifies a Boss's Elemental and Damage type Weaknesses?

Yes, because it's doable by reading a guide first or asking someone else.

Or you think it's okay to build a mod that calculates NM spawn times/locations?

Yes, because you can ask someone else or do the calculations yourself.

Or you think it's okay to build a mod that Auto-crafts?

Debatable, depends on what the devs' rules are about auto-craft mods. It's allowed in WOW, and they eventually integrated auto-craft mods and superior crafting UIs back into the game's default features. If it's allowed in FFXIV, then yes, it's okay.

Or you think it's okay to build a mod that Auto-gathers?

See above.

Or Auto-farms?

See above.

It's bad enough that Quest Tracker has become mainstream and all MMOs now imediately point you to the location of your objective. You want the game to play itself for you too?

See above.

What's the point of playing a game if all your going to do is modify it to make it easier? Don't try to pretend you wont. Moders are Moders and they all do the same thing.

Modding simply re-shuffles the information on your screen to make it more accessible. There is literally nothing that modding automates for you that you cannot do with the default game, unless it's against the TOS, the devs are majorly slacking on updating the default UI, or both.

"I'll just add this quest tracker.

We have that now.

Hmm.. maybe I'll get this enmity meter too.

We have that now.

Oh look this Mod will let me automate a series of attacks, that will be convenient.

We have tat now.

Hmm I haven't been able to get through that maze.. Mayb ei'll just grab this wire frame mod too.."

You have maps, who needs "wire frames"?

It's pathetic.

Play the Friggin game.

You are wrong, and you are a petulant baby.

[Promethevs]

Debatable, depends on what the devs' rules are about auto-craft mods. It's allowed in WOW, and they eventually integrated auto-craft mods and superior crafting UIs back into the game's default features. If it's allowed in FFXIV, then yes, it's okay.

WoW only allows batch processing of crafting because crafting is marginalized in the game as a trivial exercise that is not part of "core gameplay."

If WoW had a system of crafting like FFXIV's, where direct user input determines performance, automation would not be allowed. WoW's system actually very strongly prevents automation of "performance actions" through addons, and they maintain a system where every character action in combat requires 1 button push, and each combination of button+modifiers (sh-alt-ctrl) is unique -- in other words, you cannot queue actions in a macro, and you cannot use macros along with conditional expressions to choose for you what spell comes out of your button press. The only way to automate in WoW is to use third-party programs that run outside of the scope of the client, which gets you banned if you're found out.

I'd advocate that as far as addons go, this is a pretty good system to follow. It ensures that the player has to make the decision at every decision point, and has to act for every action.